Shell challenges Venture Global LNG arbitration ruling

Shell has filed an application in the New York Supreme Court seeking to set aside an arbitration tribunal’s liability award in its dispute with Venture Global over LNG deliveries.

In August, Venture Global LNG announced it had prevailed in arbitration proceedings brought by Shell in relation to LNG cargoes from the Calcasieu Pass facility. In a statement, Venture Global said an international tribunal had “issued a final and binding decision rejecting all claims brought by Shell” under the parties’ long-term LNG sale and purchase agreement. According to the company, the tribunal “found that Venture Global did not breach the contract and that Shell’s claims for damages are denied in their entirety”.

Now, Shell has challenged the arbitration ruling with a court filing.

In a statement provided to Riviera, a Shell spokesperson said, “We have filed an application in the New York Supreme Court to set aside the Tribunal’s liability award. The application alleges that Venture Global procured the award by improperly, withholding material information from Shell and the Tribunal.”

The filing seeks to reverse Shell’s defeat in International Chamber of Commerce proceedings concerning LNG cargoes from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility.

Venture Global said at the time the decision “fully vindicates Venture Global and confirms that we honored our contractual obligations to Shell”.

The company also referred to “the relevant seller aggregate liability cap of approximately US$1,600M under the relevant post-COD SPAs.”

Reuters reported that Shell’s court papers argued Venture Global had “held back crucial evidence” during the arbitration.

According to the same report, the filing alleged Venture Global earned more than US$20Bn by selling over 400 LNG cargoes on the spot market between 2022 and 2025 before declaring commercial operations, and that Shell’s request for disclosure of communications with a third party about the timing of commercial operations had been frustrated.

Reuters also reported a response from a Venture Global spokesperson describing Shell’s petition as “without merit”.

The latest move also sat against divergent arbitration outcomes involving Venture Global and other buyers.

In October 2025, BP won an arbitration case concerning LNG cargoes, with Reuters reporting that BP was seeking more than US$1,000M in damages plus interest, costs and legal fees.

The damages phase was scheduled for 2026.